Clyde Bridge (Carstairs)

This article is about the bridge over the Clyde south of Carstairs Junction.
For Other Clyde Bridges, see Template:Clyde.

The new bridge from the north

The Clyde Bridge south of Carstairs Junction carries the unclassified Pettinain Road over the river. It was built in 2023 and is a very utilitarian steel truss bridge, which includes a separate footway within the trusses. The roadway is wide, but not really wide enough for two cars to pass, with a deck made of metal plates overlaid with surface dressing. The bridge is very similar to the nearby Ponfeigh Bridge across the Douglas Water which was built in 2021. Both bridges were replacement for structures damaged or washed out by storms. In the case of the Clyde Bridge, after many years with a 3 tonne weight limit, it was closed to vehicular traffic in 2018, leading to lengthy diversions, although it remained open for pedestrians and cyclists - it forms part of the cycle route between Biggar and the park and ride site at Carstairs Junction.

At the same time as the bridge was replaced, the long causeway embankment across the flood plain to the south was also attended to, and the flood arch towards the southern end replaced.

Old Bridge

The old bridge was an early 20th century concrete structure of four spans, supported by three pairs of drum piers in the river bed. These had slender cross bracing, and supported a lightweight looking concrete trough which carries the single track roadway. The new bridge was built immediately alongside on the downstream side of the old bridge, allowing it to be used by the contractors during construction work, although it was demolished before the new bridge was opened to traffic.